I have been thinking long and hard about the meaning of this award.
When you look and think about what the requirements are and really think about what the spirit of racng means and also who best exemplifies the spirit of racing, Who do you think of? MANNIE DEMELO, that is who I think of.
Mannie owns 4 racecars that compete at delaware speedway
Title sponsor of the truck class
Sponsors a number of other racers
Loves the sport and Delaware speedway
Host and sponsors the Demar nationals
And adds money to the purse of all classes.
This year he added 500.00 for each class on Championship weekend and thousands to the Enduro guys.
What most of the guys don't know is that he wouldn't let his team cars take the extra money he put up for those races.
If we finished in one of those positions we were to be moved from that portion of the payout and the next car was to receive that money.
He is a man that is proud of his relationship with the racers, the fans and track personel.
I am proud he is my car owner but most of all I am proud he is my friend.
I am not telling you how to vote I just want you to consider Mannie cause in my mind there is no other candidate.
For those of us that don't know, is the award given by a vote of your peers, or how does it work exactly?
Nomination forms were handed out to all the drivers on friday night before the race program began. I believe you can also e-mail nominations, with reason why, to the speedway staff. The final decision is made by the delaware commitee as far as I know. To me, this is one of the top awards within ontario short track racing because of the people that the award is named for.
Very good choice indeed!!!
I nominate Jon Urlin.